Ideas for replanting border please.

In the recent gales our fence was blown down and we've since had it replaced - (costalot -ouch!) Our neighbour, a retired carpenter, and his son put the new fence up for us and it looks good.We only have one complaint though, that they walked all over the plants but how could we say anything when they were doing us a favour. Anyway, plants can be replaced can't they?

I would like to fill the border with some early flowering plants, maybe annuals to start with, and then some colourful perrenials which must be easy maintenance.

I know we can't do anything until the snow and frost have gone but any suggestions please?

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The new fence is looking good

I'm wondering what plants were trampled. I'm just thinking that if they were dormant anyway for winter, surely many will be ok and will come back in spring as normal.

 

What direction does the border face?
Penstemon are nice hardy perennials which are pretty maintenance free. I posted a few pictures in this thread (http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/general-gardening-discussion/40560-pure-chance.html).
As Armandii says, widen it a little and the world is your oyster.
Early bloomers;
Uvularia grandiflora


Polygonatum hybridum


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........and my own personal favourite, Hermodactylus tuberosus


Erythronium "Kondo"

 

Posted "submit" instead of "preview"!

Late spring/early summer;
Dicentra

Dicentra by longk48, on Flickr

Trollius Chinensis "Golden Queen"

Trollius Chinensis "Golden Queen" by longk48, on Flickr


Campanulas will bloom for much of the summer.

Aconitum "Stainless Steel" will bloom for about a month in early summer (it is VERY TOXIC)

 

ARMANDII
lovely borders you have. Don't think we will widen our borders as they are big enough for Jack to cope with now. I think what I am looking for is instant colour, well for some of the plants, so I suppose some plug plants or larger from garden centre could be more suitable and perhaps a few annuals in between. Very impatient to get it all growing again :DOH:

longk - your penstemons look good. Border faces west so brighter in the afternoon. Hadn't considered that -so do I need to choose shade loving plants?



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and don't forget huchera for all year colour .... there are some that can grow in full sun

Terra Nova Nurseries - Home Gardeners - Heuchera

 

West facing gets the best of the days sun, so I don't think that you'll need to consider plants for shade.
A couple of annuals to consider for the first year whilst perennials get established are Cleome.......


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............which grows up to about a metre and a half high, metre wide.

And Nicotiana sylvestris..........


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................which grows up to about two metres tall and is highly fragrant. The huge leaves give it a slightly exotic look too.

Both are very easy from seed.

 

Full sun, free draining and space! I've seen them poorly grown en mass because they are too close - if they can't grow sideways they seem to stop going up

Now is the time to sow. Prick out as soon as they germinate and put into 3cm pots. One more transplant will be needed into minimum one litre pots, before planting out late May/early June. Any sooner will not kill them, but if the soil is not nicely warmed up they seem to stall.

 

pm me if you want seeds - taken from strong plants.

 

Hi Dim
Some lovely coloured plants. I hadn't thought of coloured leaves but I will be looking for some of them! I especially like Southern Comfort and Shanghai Heucheras. And Coreopsis Desert Coral from that site looks very brightly coloured too. I think I might have to widen the borders after all if I want to plant all these. Also, I see that they are attractive to bees and butterflies - great!




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Thanks ARMANDII
Lots to think about.
At our previous address our garden evolved over the 54 years we lived there. It would have been great to bring it with us. It was just how we liked it.


Last year we made some changes to our present garden and so we have a small vegetable patch just enough for Jack to manage. Now we have to sort this border out but I will enjoy choosing the plants and it's nice to get advice from everybody.



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